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Gifting animals, games, and cakes.
games

5 Tales of Bizarre Holiday Gift-Giving

From elephants and hippos to fanfiction and sheep-shearing cake—what are you gifting this year?
Roxanne Hoorn December 5, 2024
This detail from the 12th-century Aberdeen Bestiary shows a dragon wrestling an elephant.
zoos

That Time Portugal’s King Gifted an Elephant to the Pope

Hanno the elephant suffered much at the hands of power-hungry Europeans.
Devon Field August 21, 2024
Viterbo, Italy

Thermal Springs of Viterbo

For centuries, this town's hot springs have been embraced by rich and poor—and even by Popes.
Torre Federici from across Piazza della Torre
Sonico, Italy

Torre Federici

A family accused of witchcraft once called this medieval tower home.
Cervian mayor Luca Coffari, accompanied by salt historian Eros Marzelli, delivers Cervia Salt to Pope Francis in 2017.
food

Every Year, This Italian Town Hand-Delivers Salt to the Pope

Cervia's prized product is naturally sweet.
Karen Burshtein July 27, 2021
The small chapel.
Isola di Palmarola, Italy

San Silverio Chapel

This tiny chapel atop a sea stack is dedicated to the patron saint of Ponza, Saint Silverius.
Exterior of the Palace
Anagni, Italy

Palazzo di Bonifacio VIII

This former papal residence was the site of an infamous incident known as the “slap of Anagni.”
Restorers work on the altarpiece at the Catedral Basílica Santa María la Antigua in Panama City.
sacred spaces

How Golden, Mummified Bees Hid in a Panama City Cathedral Altar

Restorers discovered the centuries-old bees' nests while preparing for a visit from the Pope.
Sabrina Imbler February 5, 2020
The basilica's twin towers
Guelph, Ontario

Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate

A 1975 bylaw prohibits the construction of any building that would block the view of this Gothic Revival church.
The Papal Gallery.
Oriolo Romano, Italy

Palazzo Altieri

This palatial building houses a remarkable gallery of papal portraits.
The abbey of San Martino al Cimino.
San Martino Al Cimino, Italy

San Martino al Cimino

This medieval Italian village was transformed into an architectural marvel by the famous "Papessa" Donna Olimpia.
Master studio.
Vatican City

Vatican Mosaic Studio

A hidden workshop for creating and restoring Papal mosaic masterpieces.
Gastro Obscura

Papal Gelatin Molds

The competing papal and Napoleonic seals on the cookware tell the story of the battle between an emperor and a pope.
Real or not, Saint Clement's bone is a glorious find.
found

Found in the Garbage: A Supposed Bone of a First-Century Pope

Behold this holy trash.
Christina Ayele Djossa May 4, 2018
Unsalted bread from Umbria.
food

The Mystery of Italy's Saltless Bread

Trade wars, papal rebellion, or salty hams. Why does central Italian bread have no salt?
Vittoria Traverso January 9, 2018
The face of a man who just heard the words "pizza party."
food

Pope Francis Celebrated His 81st Birthday With an Extra-Long Pizza

13 feet of divine, cheesy goodness.
Paula Mejia December 19, 2017
Bovril from the Supermarket
Gastro Obscura

Bovril

This "Fluid of Beef" fed an army and makes a hearty tea.
Exterior of the restored Baltimore Basilica.
Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore Basilica

The design of this historic domed church was influenced by Thomas Jefferson and intended as a statement of religious freedom.